OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A grassroots effort from the Hanscom and Field Club neighborhoods is aimed at revitalizing a portion of Center Street.
The goal is to turn the part of Center Street between 34th and 36th street into a walk-able destination for families to enjoy and bring new businesses to the neighborhood.
Part of the plan includes creating a so-called "road diet," which would reduce traffic from five to three lanes. This would add street parking, widen sidewalks and add crosswalks to make the area pedestrian friendly.
The Center Street Action Team says businesses and developers in the area are also on-board with the project. The group says the city of Omaha announced plans to re-pave Center Street sometime in 2019/2020. They'd like the city to incorporate the proposed changes when the road is repaved.
The Center Street Action Team says funding for the road changes will come from the city's Capitol Improvement Plan.
Neighbors in the Hanscom Park, Field Club area want to revitalize Center Street between 34 & 36th. The team wants to reduced traffic lanes for wider sidewalks, street parking. There’s a call for action with letters to the mayor and city officials @3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/GwpEsEV9L9
— Megan Hahn (@meganhahnTV) January 21, 2019
"We have way more capacity on this street than we have traffic and so it would be taking out some of the outer lanes to add sidewalks and so forth," said Kim Howe. "The street is getting repaved this fall or early next year so it's going to have new lines on the street anyway and it's really wasteful not to do this at the same time."
The Center Street Action Team hopes to have two hundred supporters send letters to the Mayor's Office by the end of the month. There's also a community interest meeting Wednesday, January 23rd, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Vis Major Brewing Company.
